Preventing another 1028

[Bruce Carneal]

On Thursday, 28 May 2020 at 00:05:19 UTC, Bruce Carneal wrote:
> DIP 1028 is unsound.
> DIP 1028 is deeply unpopular.
> DIP 1028 is ridiculous.
>
> How do we lessen the likelihood that DIPs like 1028 are 
> accepted in the future?
>
> DIP 1028 survived veto because the DIP author had a very low 
> bar to jump over; he only had to convince one person that 
> silently and globally calling extern(C) safe was sane.  Here 
> are some ways to raise that bar:
>
> 1) Appoint an at-large language maintainer (LM) that steps in 
> whenever either of the two LMs author a DIP.
>
> 2) Appoint an "emeritus" LM that can veto DIPs but is not 
> required to actively approve them.  Andre?
>
> 3) Increase the number of LMs.
>
> 4) Some combination of the above.
>
> If you have other, preferably simple, ideas on how to improve 
> the DIP process, please chime in.  We may hit on something that 
> could actually work.
>
> If the LMs refuse amendment, and the governing docs provide no 
> relief, DIP process dysfunction will remain a "vote with your 
> feet" issue (the disaffected bleed away, growth stagnates, the 
> community becomes ever more cynical and withdraws from DIP 
> commentary, ...).
>
> Finally, the elephant in the room: The DIP process would work 
> much much better if Walter could somehow learn to communicate 
> effectively in the forums.  Crucially, Walter often says that 
> he believes he's answered a concern when the other, often 
> highly respected, party most definitely believes he has not.  
> Evidently it requires the patience of Job and the clarity of 
> Timon to get through to Walter.  Even that is not always enough.

As Mike Parker, the DIP manager, has just confirmed via email 
there are no governing documents regarding changing the DIP 
process, you just make suggestions to him directly.  That's 
refreshingly direct.  Here are the two that I've proposed:

1) Recruit an "at large" LM to stand in whenever a DIP authored 
by a regular LM is being considered.

2) Recruit Andre, or Timon or ... as a tie-breaker LM who can 
weigh in to break a tie between the two LMs (2 out of 3 wins).

It may be too much of an ask to get even these "part time" LMs 
but it's a start.  Whatever it takes to reduce cynicism and get 
things moving.